What spousal disability benefits are

If your spouse receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you may be able to receive a portion of their benefit amount — even if you have never worked or have not worked recently. This is called a spousal benefit. The payment comes from your spouse's benefit, not from a separate pool, which means it reduces the total amount your household receives.

You do not need your own work history to receive this benefit. Social Security bases the payment on your spouse's earnings record and your age or status, not on your own contributions to the system.

Key Takeaways

  • You can receive up to 50 percent of your spouse's full SSDI benefit amount if you are at least 62 years old or caring for their child under 16.
  • The payment reduces your spouse's total household benefit, so the more you receive, the less they get.
  • If you are under 62 and not caring for a child, you cannot receive a spousal benefit, even if your spouse is on SSDI.
  • You must report your own income to Social Security, because earnings above a certain amount will reduce or stop your benefit.
  • Your benefit amount depends on your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is based on their lifetime earnings record.

Age requirements and family status

Your age or family situation determines whether you can receive a spousal benefit at all. If you are 62 or older, you can receive a spousal benefit based on your spouse's SSDI record. If you are younger than 62, you can receive a benefit only if you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16 years old.

Being a stepparent, grandparent, or adoptive parent may also may have access to you, but the rules depend on whether you legally adopted the child or established the relationship before the child turned 18. Social Security will ask for birth certificates, adoption papers, or court documents to verify the relationship.

If you are divorced, you may be able to receive a spousal benefit on your ex-spouse's SSDI record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and you are at least 62. You do not need their permission, and they do not need to know you are receiving it.

How the payment amount is calculated

Social Security calculates your spousal benefit as a percentage of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — the full benefit they would receive at their full retirement age. The percentage depends on your age when you start receiving the benefit.

If you are 62 when you start, you receive roughly 32 to 35 percent of their PIA. If you wait until you are older, the percentage increases. At your own full retirement age (which varies by birth year, typically 66 to 67), you receive up to 50 percent of their PIA. After your full retirement age, the amount does not increase further.

Your spouse's PIA is not the same as the amount they actually receive. Their own benefit may be reduced if they work and earn above a certain amount, or if they claimed SSDI before their full retirement age. Social Security will tell you the exact amount when you contact them.

How your own earnings affect the payment

If you work and earn income, Social Security will reduce your spousal benefit. For 2024, if you are under your full retirement age, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefit for every $2 you earn above $23,400 per year. The limit changes each year.

Once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies, and you can work without losing any of your benefit. If you are already receiving the spousal benefit and then start working, report your income to Social Security right away so they can adjust your payment correctly.

Self-employment income counts as earnings. If you own a business, you must report your net profit, not just what you withdraw from the business account.

How the household benefit works

When you receive a spousal benefit, the total amount your household gets from Social Security may be less than if your spouse were receiving SSDI alone. This is called the family maximum. In most cases, the family maximum is 150 to 180 percent of your spouse's PIA.

If your household includes other family members receiving benefits on your spouse's record — such as their children or another spouse — Social Security divides the family maximum among all of you. If the total of all benefits would exceed the family maximum, each person's payment is reduced proportionally.

For example, if your spouse's PIA is $2,000 and the family maximum is $3,000, and you and two children are all receiving benefits, Social Security will divide the $3,000 among the three of you rather than paying each person their full amount.

How to report your spousal benefit to Social Security

You must contact Social Security directly to report that you want a spousal benefit. You can call 1-800-772-1213, visit your local Social Security office, or create an account on Social Security's website at ssa.gov and use their online services.

Bring documents that prove your age (birth certificate), your marriage (marriage certificate), and your citizenship or legal residency status. If you are explore as a caregiver for a child, bring the child's birth certificate and proof that you are caring for them (such as school records or medical records showing you as the contact).

Social Security will review your spouse's SSDI record and calculate your benefit amount. The process typically takes two to four weeks. You will receive a notice in the mail explaining your benefit amount and when payments will start.

What happens if your spouse's SSDI ends

If your spouse's SSDI benefit ends — because they return to work, their medical condition improves, or they reach full retirement age and switch to retirement benefits — your spousal benefit also ends. However, if you are at least 62, you may be able to switch to a spousal benefit based on their retirement benefit instead, which would continue your payments.

If your spouse passes away, your spousal benefit ends, but you may be able to receive a survivor benefit instead. Survivor benefits have different rules and amounts. Contact Social Security to learn what you might receive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive a spousal benefit if my spouse is still working?

Yes. Your spouse's work does not affect your spousal benefit. However, if your spouse earns above the earnings limit, their own SSDI benefit will be reduced, which could affect the amount you receive if there is a family maximum in place. Your own earnings will reduce your benefit separately.

What if I was married before and my ex-spouse is on SSDI?

You may receive a spousal benefit on your ex-spouse's record if you were married for at least 10 years, you are at least 62, and you are not currently married. You do not need their permission or knowledge. Contact Social Security with your ex-spouse's name and Social Security number.

Does my spousal benefit count as income for other programs?

Yes. Spousal benefits count as income for programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, and housing information. Report the benefit amount to those programs when you report other income, or your other benefits may be reduced.

Can I receive a spousal benefit and my own SSDI at the same time?

If you are receiving SSDI on your own work record, you cannot also receive a spousal benefit. Social Security will pay you whichever amount is higher. If you are not yet receiving your own SSDI, you may be able to receive both, but the total is usually limited by the family maximum.

What if I remarry after my spouse starts SSDI?

If you remarry, your spousal benefit on your previous spouse's record ends. You may be able to receive a spousal benefit on your new spouse's record instead, but you must report the marriage to Social Security right away.